HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

Raiders roll past Colts

South Sumter's #2 Ladovick Gibson powers his way to the end zone for a touchdown in the second half of the Region 5A-2 semifinals against North Marion. The Raiders defeated the Colts, 42-8, Friday night, November 22, 2013, at North Marion High School in Sparr, FL.

Published: Friday, November 22, 2013 at 11:44 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, November 22, 2013 at 11:44 p.m.

South Sumter's #2 Ladovick Gibson powers his way to the end zone for a touchdown in the second half of the Region 5A-2 semifinals against North Marion. The Raiders defeated the Colts, 42-8, Friday night, November 22, 2013, at North Marion High School in Sparr, FL.

Doug Engle/Ocala Star-Banner

Photo Galleries

South Sumter's up-tempo offensive system proved to be too fast and too efficient for the Colts, and the visiting Raiders stormed to a 42-8 win in Friday's Region 5A-2 semifinal at Stan Toole Memorial Stadium.

"We got outcoached tonight and outplayed," North Marion interim head coach Matt Johnson said. "The better team definitely won tonight. It was just one of those things where we got behind the eight-ball early and we couldn't dig our way out."

South Sumter (12-0) seized the reins of the game early and never let up, running each play the instant the referees blew the whistle. After one game-opening defensive stop by North Marion, the Raiders scored on their next four possessions for a 28-0 lead by halftime.

"Up to this point, I still think North Marion is the best defense we've played," said 30th-year South Sumter coach Inman Sherman, one of the state's winningest all-time coaches who has the Raiders in the playoffs for the 18th time in 21 years.

"I just think we made them tired," Sherman added. "That's our mode — to try and make people tired. So we try to play as fast as the refs will let us."

South Sumter showed outstanding offensive balance with 210 yards on the ground and 183 through the air. The Raiders also spread the scoring around, with five different players — Anderson Faulk, Ladovick Gibson, J.T. Taylor, P.J. Brown and Zy-Quavious Bell — finding the end zone. Gibson was the only repeat scorer with a pair of TDs.

South Sumter senior quarterback Levi Sapp engineered the operation brilliantly, working at a pace that prevented the Colts from ever getting pressure. He also used hard counts on third-and-short to draw key offsides penalties three different times in the first half, each gaining the Raiders a drive-extending first down.

Sapp finished 12-of-18 for 183 yards and two TDs.

North Marion (9-3) fell behind 35-0 on Gibson's second score at the end of the third quarter to set off a running clock for the fourth. The Colts then got on the board early in the final quarter with a picture-perfect bomb from Caleb Seiler to Freddie Swain — both are just sophomores — from 41 yards out.

But it was ultimately defense that did in the Colts, who were simply unable to contain the Raiders' precision pass attack and physical running game while being forced to play at a relentless no-huddle tempo.

"You've got to recognize the formation, the personnel they've got out there and then you've got to get lined up and adjust to it," Johnson said. "That's what's so hard about it, because they run it with such a good tempo. It's impossible to re-create that in practice with our scout team."

Johnson finished his abbreviated debut season as Colts coach with a 7-3 record. He had the uniquely difficult task of taking over the team midseason — longtime coach Craig Damon stepped down after Week 2 — and after a 1-2 start, he led North Marion on a six-game winning streak that culminated in a district championship.

"It was a wild ride," Johnson said. "I definitely wouldn't say it was ideal circumstances, but I felt like the guys really responded to us. We broke off a nice little wining streak. It's like I just told the guys, nobody thought we'd be sitting here at 9-2 and playing South Sumter in the second round of the playoffs. I'm proud of these guys. They probably played above their heads at times and the future's bright."

South Sumter moves on to next week's regional final against St. Pete Lakewood, a 30-9 winner over Tarpon Springs on Friday.

---

Andy Marks can be reached at andy.marks@ocala.com.

Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.